Protein

Protein is needed to build and repair your muscles, make hair and skin, fight against infections, and carry oxygen in your blood. Proteins are made up of about twenty different building blocks called amino acids. Your body can make some amino acids but there are nine that can’t be made (we call these “essential amino acids”), and the only way to get them is through the food you eat. It’s important to eat a variety of protein foods every day to make sure your body gets all of the essential amino acids.

What foods are high in protein?

Plant foods such as legumes (beans, lentils, and peas), nuts, peanut butter, seeds, and soy foods (soybeans, soymilk, and tofu) are all high in protein. Animal foods such as meat, fish, turkey, chicken, eggs, milk, cheese, and yogurt are also good sources of protein.

How much protein do I need each day?

The amount of protein that you need daily, or the recommended daily allowance (RDA), depends on your age, gender, and body size, but most teens need between 40 and 60 grams of protein each day. To figure out exactly how much you need, you’ll need to do a little math.

If you’re 11-13 years old: Multiply your weight in pounds by 0.43; this gives you about how many grams of protein you need each day. For example, a 13 year-old who weighs 119 lbs would need about 51 grams of protein (119 lbs x 0.43 = 51.1).

If you’re 14-18 years old: Multiply your weight in pounds by 0.39 to estimate how many grams of protein you need each day. For example, a 15 year-old male who weighs 130 lbs would need about 51 grams of protein (130 lbs x 0.39 = 50.7).

Keep in mind that this is just an estimate. Now that you know about how much protein you should eat every day, it’s helpful to know how much protein is in the foods you eat. For comparison, 3 ounces of meat is approximately the size of a deck of cards.

The table below lists some good sources of protein and the grams of protein in each serving.

Food

Serving Size

Grams of protein per serving

Tuna

3 ounces

20 grams

Hamburger

3 ounces

20 grams

Chicken

3 ounces

21 grams

Shrimp

3 ounces

18 grams

Tempeh

½ cup

15 grams

Yogurt

1 cup

11 grams

Greek Yogurt

1 cup

23 grams

Tofu

½ cup

9 grams

Lentils, cooked

½ cup

9 grams

Cow’s milk

1 cup

8 grams

Peanut butter

2 tbsp

8 grams

Almond butter

2 tbsp

5 grams

Sunbutter (peanut free)

2 tbsp

7 grams

Kidney beans, cooked

½ cup

8 grams

Cheese

1 ounce

7 grams

Egg, cooked

1 large

7 grams

Soy milk

1 cup

7 grams

Hummus

1/3 cup

6 grams

Miso

2 tbsp

4 grams

Quinoa

½ cup

4 grams

Bulgur, kasha, oats, cooked

½ cup

3 grams

Almonds

¼ cup

8 grams

Peanuts

¼ cup

9 grams

What’s the deal with protein supplements?

There are many different protein supplements that come as powders, shakes, and bars.

If you’re thinking of taking a protein supplement, keep these facts in mind:

Most Americans get more than enough protein from food; therefore extra supplements don’t have any benefit.

Protein supplements don’t increase muscle mass, strength, or endurance – the keys to building new muscle are proper training and eating enough calories.

Some protein shakes and supplements may be harmful to your body.

Protein supplements are very expensive.

Be sure to talk to your health care provider (and dietitian) if you’re taking a protein supplement or you’re thinking about taking one.

How often should I eat foods with protein in them?

Because protein is a filling nutrient, it’s a good idea to eat some at every meal and at most snacks to keep you satisfied and not hungry. Our bodies have no way of storing protein, so you can’t eat it all at one meal and assume that your body will have enough at other times. The table below includes some easy ways for you to get in protein throughout the day.

Young Men’s Health (YMH) is produced by the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. The purpose of the website is to provide carefully researched health information to teenage boys and young men.